Our drive was to Shoreline Dr. Tommy said he was hungry and he wanted to go check out the new two story Whataburger restaurant. Once we arrived I did the typical first date thing and said I wasn't hungry and I would take a small order of fries and small coke. Now that I reflect on this date, I am sure that I was hungry. Tommy ordered his #5. Which was a double meat burger with cheese and bacon.
We talked through our entire meal. Words never failed us. Our conversations were always natural and clearly not forced. We enjoyed one another's stories. We may have been from the same home town but we were in totally different circles. Tommy was adventurous and I was closed off from the world. I just graduated from a private, Christian school and he from the local public high school. I was at church almost every day there was a service. I had my faith and relationship with God, but I also longed to be "normal" and have friends outside of the world that I had been raised into. The boy I was sitting across from had a good heart. I had no idea what his faith or beliefs were regarding God. I just knew he had been kind to me out the gate. I was warned by many about him and what they knew of him. The more I shared with Tommy, the more he got to know me and vice versa. I don't think he was intimidated by the fact I was a goody goody girl.
One fact remained certain as we talked more at dinner. I felt safe with Tommy. At one point a large group of older men walked into the restaurant. They were not the type of individuals I was accustom to seeing. He could tell I was nervous based on the fact that I was exuding some unease. He reached over to my side of the table and placed his hand on top of mine. He held his hand there until he felt he had distracted me from the loud voices and laughing coming the group of guys. The entire time he was telling me about his parents dog, Tina, he held my hand and maintained eye contact. I don't know what was happening around us, but damnit, I was going to meet this dog, Tina. She sounded like a badass lap dog.
Once we were back in his truck, an awkwardness has filled inside me. He could tell, especially since I avoided eye contact with him. I kept looking across the roadway at the water and beach to seem not so lost. It obviously wasn't working.
"Ronnie, look at me." Oh dear God, why does that nickname roll off his tongue so perfectly? I look to my left and he is now leaning on the arm rest ,moving closer towards me.
"I hope you know I would never let anyone hurt you. I am here and I will protect you forever." He lifts my left hand and kisses my knuckles where the fingers meet.
"Ronnie, I promise."
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